|TI 
* - 


LIBRARY 

ahcolo()ical  Seminary, 

Plus  ('ETC  y.  X.  ./ 




No.  Case, 

No.  Shelf,  ^ 

No.  Book,  ^ 
-No. 


From  the  Rev.  W.  B.  SPRAGUE,  D.D.  Sept.  1839. 


JSprague  €&llecfion,  Vol^  ^ ^ ^ 


4 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2015 


https://archive.org/details/sermondelivereda00dick_2 


SERMON, 


DELIVERED  AT  SPRINGFIELD,  MAS3*» 

July  4th,  1829, 


BEFORE  THE 

€olonf|atton  Socfetj} 

OF 

eounts. 


BY  BAXTER  DICKINSON, 

PASTOR  OF  THE  FIRST  CHURCH  IH  LONGMEADOW* 


PUBLISHED  BY  REQUEST  OF  THE  SOCIETY. 


SPRIJSTGFIELD. 

PRINTED  BY  8.  BOWLES. 


t-  ^ m * 

i kI  ; fm  iwM  ^ *4^  - 

I ;<»,;ip*.  tFvanai'i  s eai<fuf>:9  uj^wq  t-yiJq^m  HdT 

^ jwiaf}‘4TU»Jo  ailaiai  ^ 

aiaa  - .««rt-  n «---.fii/ti  jtois  )g3--^ia  srfj  jttOtl  j 

\naji3ul  ii^  ^lnwljj*»  ir,9K^  Lutibirii  fli  j 

jyilc.  .»iil  btiB  n&»4,  9il  *mM  o^agoRni  soi  ^niKi  j: 

A !fWJ  j!(n«J  RuAi  Itifti  .b’v9  lo  SiilrMnHj  IxJR  9<o!  Cfif/ll 
^ «i  :a«U»Aai  <d  ; azm  tol  boa  -•w«:*q  Jaaiu-nnaq 
^ Ktft'irr*  n ,li«l«vtt»(ii  B:^vla  6 OJoi  jiiiqe  vlna.'faari 

•Oil  ,e(]^  > >Ji  1o  io'>  nl  .eistdio  oi  ior->B>3D9(i.s 

i«^iui6  Tf»n  »Ji  oi  8i9Wo<i  £srf  iS-J»«t3-3«noo  xliulviodD 

.o9»R‘-woll'jV  I'm;  hoO  lo  jolna*  oiJj  at  ^los  *-w> 

-i^«a  leiu  Ao  tiiV'itruB  »itt  o!  viliaMitkd  ?bl  jr?  ;»H 

s }xj}  ni'^  dii«i;w  lor  Ritjasavi  auJvib  lo  wxl:>  «io  j 

, .a^miaaqe  | 

' ,niutrSm.tiO^  ,9mii-}  jHamnonsilo  IIiil  ,I»ltbvf  itm  at  | 

-oJ  ?>s%ifi!flb  J"  I'B  %l|  lo  ajvMj  ifdt  aol  aqo»  ?J  ri‘jdj  'I 

*i4i  irrffj  uo  «!l*0«i  , c I lo  i:}»/-ii)  ei  li  bflA  .sapalo/au  | 

trtiJatuiiib  mIj  SOO*«fe  fci  oeJ^qiaia?  enobifai  lo  Jinq#  ; 

? lab  hmt^tK  iftii  -ns  »//  .»?«  sni->»)^  adi  lo  eotui/Wl  . • 

b Joa  W*  9f.  — ; qi»  bftiiW#  Ha-id  «Bd  Ihiq*  a d-n^^ 

I •.dJ-'  ifjB.^aq  iMHd  /MuaoTsab  -jdi  J*  . . 

>'  yitHf.-i  dJ  « HiUiIro  i»  ■ />t»|  od,'  111,  bossilipUB  i'lH  OIB  SVf 

1 a*iinoi<4  M tilt#  ‘wii  1m  Rtr^tana  adj  ritiol- 

i.  frfl«  boO  1m  aoh6»*Miq’|ft.ajll  iifiili  bta  w^i  vjriio  oo  f<' 


SERMON. 


Heb.  XIII.  16.  But  to  do  good,  and  to  communicate,  forget  not ; for 
with  such  sacrifices  God  is  well  pleased. 

. This  inspired  precept  exhibits  a prominent  charac- 
teristic of  our  religion.  It  is  a system  that  manifestly 
seeks  both  the  present  and  future  welfare  of  man. 
Embraced  in  faith  and  love,  it  can  hardly  fail  to  exert 
a purifying  influence  upon  the  heart  and  life.  Not 
only  has  Christianity  this  direct  tendency  to  reclaim 
from  the  love  and  practice  of  evil,  and  thus  procure  a 
permanent  peace  and  glory  for  man ; by  infusing  its 
heavenly  spirit  into  a given  individual,  it  renders  him 
a benefactor  to  others.  In  fulfilment  of  its  claims,  he 
cheerfully  consecrates  his  powers  in  steady  and  vigor- 
ous action,  to  the  service  of  God  and  his  fellow-men. 
He  yields  habitually  to  the  authority  of  that  numer- 
ous class  of  divine  precepts  of  which  our  text  is  a faix 
specimen. 

In  our  world,  full  of  ignorance,  crime,  and  suffering, 
there  is  scope  for  the  efforts  of  the  most  enlarged  be- 
nevolence. And  it  is  matter  of  congratulation  that  a 
spirit  of  religious  enterprise  is  among  the  distinctive 
features  of  the  passing  age.  We  are  not  surprised  that 
such  a spirit  has  been  waked  up  ; — we  are  not  surprised 
at  the  degree  in  w^hich  it  pervades  the  Christian  world  ; 
we  are  not  surprised  at  the  power  it  exhibits  in  calling 
forth  the  energies  of  the  community,  with  a promise 
of  no  other  reward  than  the  approbation  of  God  and 


4 


the  luxury  of  doing  good  ; — we  are  not  surprised,  be- 
cause it  is  the  exact  spirit  of  the  New  Testament. — 
Our  religion  is  a religion  of  love.  It  is  a religion  of 
action.  To  do  good,  and  to  communicate,  forget  not ; 
for  with^such  sacrifices  God  is  well  pleased. 

The  precept  before  us  is  of  a general  character,  in- 
culcating a readiness  for  benevolent  action  in  whatever 
form  it  may  be  demanded  by  the  circumstances  of 
mankind.  And  hence,  surely,  it  cannot  be  deemed  in- 
appropriate as  the  foundation  of  a discourse  on  the 
. present  occasion.  The  object  of  consideration  spe- 
cially before  us  is  the  case  of  the  coloured  population 
of  our  country.  They  are  a degraded  and  afflicted 
multitude,  in  the  bosom  of  a free,  enlightened,  and 
Christian  land.  For  their  benefit  primarily  a society 
was  formed  twelve  years  ago,  which  has  steadily  pur- 
sued its  object  under  circumstances  of  peculiar  embar- 
rassment, but  with  very  encouraging  effect.  And  the 
claims  of  that  society  on  our  support  are  to  constitute 
the  burden  of  this  discourse. 

The  ‘‘American  Colonization  Society”  was  formed 
with  special  reference  to  the  free  blacks  of  our  coun- 
try, With  the  delicate  subject  of  slavery  it  presumes 
not  to  interfere.  And  yet  doubtless  from  the  first  it 
has  cherished  the  hope  of  being  in  some  w^ay  or  other 
a medium  of  relief  to  the  entire  coloured  population 
of  the  land.  Such  a hope  is  certainly  both  innocent 
and  benevolent.  And  so  long  as  the  society  adheres 
to  the  object  announced  in  its  Constitution,  as  it 
hitherto  has  done,  the  master  can  surely  find  no  reas- 
onable cause  of  anxiety.  And  it  is  a gratifying 
circumstance  that  the  society  has  from  the  first  obtain- 
ed its  most  decided  and  efficient  sup})ort  from  the 
slave-holding  States. 


5 


The  object  of  the  Society  is  to  aid  the  settlement 
of  such  free  blacks,  as  are  willing  to  emigrate,  on  the 
western  coast  of  Africa.  They  may  have  been  born 
free,  or  emancipated  from  a state  of  bondage.  It 
would  gladly,  however,  grasp  at  a still  grander  object — 
that  of  restoring  to  the  land  of  their  fathers  the  whole 
coloured  race  wdthin  our  borders.  Nor  probably  will 
it  be  satisfied  to  rest  from  its  labours,  till  this  object, 
in  all  its  magnitude,  is  accomplished.  This  then  is 
the  enterprise  whose  claims  are  now  urged  upon  our 
consideration. 

Whenever  an  object  of  this  nature  is  presented,  two 
questions  are  naturally  suggested — is  the  object  im- 
portant ? — IS  IT  PRACTICABLE  ? The  importance  of 
the  enterprise  before  us  is  very  generally  conceded. — 
The  Christian,  the  philanthropist,  the  patriot,  are  unit- 
ed in  acknotvledging  and  proclaiming  its  importance. 

Though  the  plans  of  the  Society  have  been  regard- 
ed as  benevolent  and  patriotic,  the  project  was  at  first 
looked  upon  by  the  country  at  large  as  visionary— even 
though  it  was  simply  to  remove  the  free  people  of  col- 
oure.  Hence  for  a number  of  years  the  Society  ob- 
tained but  a very  limited  support.  And  to  the  present 
time,  it  is  believed  that  thousands  decline  a participa- 
tion in  the  enterprise  from  the  palsying  impression  that 
it  can  never  fully  succeed.  Toil,  and  treasure,  and  life 
may  be  expended  ; and  yet  the  dread  evil  will  exist 
among  us.  Perhaps  this  spirit  of  incredulity  pervades 
in  a measure  the  community  of  which  ourselves  are  a 
part.  And  to  it  probably  may  be  ascribed  in  part  the 
too  general  apathy  that  prevails  on  this  subject.  Could 
our  eye  glance  forward  upon  the  future  operations  of 
the  Society,  and  fasten  itself  upon  so  splendid  a result 
as  that  which  it  contemplates,  the  enterprise,  it  is  be- 
lieved, would  enjoy  our  warmest  sympathies,  and  be 


6 


the  occasion  of  some  of  our  boldest  and  most  self-de- 
nying efforts. 

Can  the  enterprise,  then,  on  which  the  American 
Colonization  Society  is  embarked,  be  accomplished  ? 
Can  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  free  people  of 
colour,  and  two  millions  of  slaves  be  taken  from  the 
midst  of  us  and  planted  down  upon  the  soil  of  their 
fathers,  to  their  own  benefit  and  to  the  immense  ben- 
fit  of  our  country. 

In  considering  the  practicability  of  the  colonizing 
plan,  several  inquiries  are  naturally  suggested.  And 
the  first  is.  Can  blacks  be  induced  to  emigrate  ? An- 
other is.  Can  they  be  defended  fro  m the  violence  of  the 
natives  ? A third — Will  the  country  to  which  they  are 
carried  furnish  the  means  of  their  comfortable  subsist- 
ence ? A fourth — Is  the  climate  of  the  country  suffi- 
ciently hecdthy  to  justify  a settlement  there  ? And  a 
fifth  inquiry  is.  Has  our  country  the  resources  demand- 
ed for  the  accomplishment  of  an  object  of  this  magni- 
tude ? 

1.  Can  blacks  be  induced  to  emigrate?  This  inqui- 
ry is  satisfactorily  answered  by  a bare  reference  to  the 
past  operations  of  the  Society,  It  has  adopted  no 
coercive  measures  ; and  yet  it  has  planted  a flourishing 
Colony  of  fourteen  hundred  souls.  Three  hundred 
were  transported  the  last  year.  Six  hundred  stood 
ready  to  embark  at  the  close  of  the  year.  And  at  the 
same  time  a passage  was  sought  for  two  hundred  slaves. 
Had  the  Society  the  pecuniary  means,  these  eight  hun- 
dred might  now  have  been  pursuing  the  varied  avoca- 
tions of  an  honest  industry,  free  and  happy,  on  the  coast 
of  Africa. 

It  is  not  strange  that  the  coloured  race  looked  at  the 
enterprise  in  its  infancy  with  suspicion.  How  could 


7 


they  do  otherwise  with  the  record  of  their  past  wrongs 
before  them  ? In  proportion,  however,  as  the  plan 
and  its  success  have  become  known,  has  that  jealousy 
been  removed.  And  why  should  they  not  readily  fall 
in  with  the  views  of  the  Society  which  seeks  their 
benefit  ? On  what,  judging  from  the  past,  can  they 
reasonably  calculate  in  this  land  but  degradation  and 
suffering  ? And  in  the  foreign  land  to  which  they  are 
pointed,  how  cheering  is  the  prospect  that  opens  on 
their  view.  By  the  more  intelligent  among  them  the 
case  is  well  understood,  and  there  is  rising  a tide  of 
sentiment  in  favour  of  emigration.  Meetings  are  held, 
and  addresses  sent  forth  from  their  number  which  can- 
not fail  to  aid  immensely  the  designs  of  the  Society. 
It  has  never  yet  been  an  obstacle  to  its  operations  that 
emigrants  could  not  be  procured,  and  probably  it  never 
will  be.  As  regards  this  point,  then,  the  object  contem- 
plated is  most  manifestly  within  the  limits  of  practica- 
bility. 

2.  Can  a Colony  on  the  coast  of  Africa  be  defended 
from  the  violence  of  the  natives  ? This  inquiry,  too,  is 
satisfactorily  answered  by  a bare  reference  to  the  past. 
A hostile  spirit  was  manifested  by  the  natives  in  the 
very  infancy  of  the  settlement  of  Liberia.  The  means 
of  defence  were  of  course  very  poor.  The  whole 
effective  force  of  the  Colony  was  but  twenty-eight 
men  and  boys.  And  yet  this  little  band,  led  by  the 
discreet,  courageous,  and  now  lamented  Ashmun — this 
little  band,  contending  for  liberty  and  life,  withstood 
two  successive  attacks  from  the  natives — the  first  by 
eight  hundred,  the  second  by  fifteen  hundred.  And 
the  result  of  that  warfare,  united  with  the  well  known 
timidity  of  the  native  African  character,  has  led  to  the 
opinion,  that  a hundred  well  armed  freemen,  fighting 
for  their  liberty,  and  their  children,  and  their  homes. 


8 


may  defend  the  Colony  against  all  the  hordes  that  can 
be  mustered  against  them.  And  yet  the  Colony  has 
at  present  a far  better  defence  than  that.  Its  military 
organization  depends  for  its  extent,  discipline  and 
strength,  upon  the  public  spirit  of  the  people  ; and  still 
nearly  every  able  bodied  man  has  enrolled  himself  as  a 
member  of  some  uniformed  and  regularly  trained  corps. 
And  the  whole  might  be  brought  into  actual  service 
upon  the  shortest  notice.  The  organization  and  disci- 
pline of  this  force  are  such  as  to  admit  of  no  appre- 
hensions of  public  danger.  In  proportion  as  the  set- 
tlement enlarges,  will  its  means  of  protection  be  ex- 
tended ; and  an  over-awing  influence  will  be  sent 
abroad  through  the  neighbouring  tribes.  There  is, 
then,  no  fearful  hazard  attending  the  enterprise.  It 
is  a groundless  anxiety,  that  is  occasioned  by  the  num- 
bers and  the  jealousies  of  the  native  inhabitants. 

3.  Will  the  country^  selected  as  the  home  of  our  col- 
oured brethren^  furnish  the  means  of  a comfortable  sub- 
sistence ? “ There  remains  not  a doubt,”  said  Mr. 

Ashmun  the  Colonial  Agent,  some  months  previous  to 
his  decease,  “ that  the  products  of  the  Colony  will,  the 
ensuing  year,  equal  its  consumption  in  every  article 
except  rice.  The  results  of  the  last  year’s  industry 
have  furnished  most  convincing  proofs  of  the  produc- 
tiveness of  the  soil.”  Of  many  articles  a large  surplus 
has  been  raised.  The  Coffee  of  the  Colony  has  been 
sold  in  several  of  our  own  markets.  A regular  trade 
with  the  settlement  has  been  commenced  by  some  of 
our  merchants.  The  exports  of  the  Colony  the  last 
year  are  reported  to  have  amounted  to  seventy  or  eighty 
thousand  dollars.  At  the  commencement  of  the  year 
four  small  schooners  had  gone  abroad  upon  the  coasting 
trade  under  the  flag  of  the  Colony, — several  others 
were  about  to  sail,  most  of  which  had  been  built  and 
fitted  out  by  the  Colonists. 


9 


Scarcely  any  country  affords  a better  variety  of  do- 
mestic  animals  and  products  than  that  which  now  in- 
vites to  its  bosom  our  coloured  population.  Among 
them  are  some  of  the  choicest  luxuries  as  w^ell  as 
conveniences  of  life.  Nor  is  the  productive  terri- 
tory of  very  limited  extent.  It  stretches  along  the 
coast  and  back  into  the  interior,  so  as  to  constitute  a 
country  adequate,  and  more  than  adequate  to  all  the 
majestic  purposes  contemplated  by  the  Colonizing  So- 
ciety. Nor  is  there  any  serious  difficulty  in  obtaining 
from  the  natives  an  exclusive  title  to  the  soil,  and  that 
too  for  a trivial  price. 

There  is  held  out  to  the  view  of  the  emigrant  then 
every  reasonable  prospect  of  a comfortable  home. — 
Agriculture,  the  mechanick  arts,  commerce,  all  pledge 
to  him  a full  reward  for  his  labour.  He  may  be  bles- 
sed with  competency  ; he  may  be  blessed  with  ivealth, 
I anticipate  a little  the  future  history  of  this  enterprise, 
and  visions  of  splendid  improvement  break  on  my  view. 
I see  the  forest  subdued ; gardens,  orchards,  and  ex- 
tended fields  enclosed  ; 1 see  cities  rising  one  after  an- 
other, embosoming  a busy  and  thriving  population.— 
Throughout  an  extended  territory,  the  dwellings,  the 
fields,  the  villages,  the  cities,  the  rivers,  the  harbours, 
all  present  the  spectacle  of  a peaceful,  thriving  and 
happy  population. 

But  though  the  country  may  furnish  the  means  of 
support— Is 

4.  The  climate  siifficiently  healthy  to  justify  a set- 
tlement  there  ? Say  the  Managers  of  the  Society  in 
their  last  Report,  “ The  general  health  of  the  Colony 
has  through  the  year  been  uninterrupted  ; and  addition- 
al experience  confirms  the  belief  that  there  is  nothing 
in  the  African  climate  to  prevent  the  successful  estab- 
lishment of  colonies  of  coloured  persons  from  die  Uni- 

2 


10 


ted  States,  Ibut  that  its  influences  are  well  adapted  to 
the  constitution  of  the  coloured  race.  A slight  in- 
disposition soon  after  their  arrival  may  be  expected  ; 
but  subsequently  they  enjoy  more  vigour  and  exemp- 
tion from  disease  than  in  countries  without  the  tropics.” 

This  is  the  language  of  experiment.  In  one  of  the 
towns  of  the  Colony,  with  the  exception  of  two  chil- 
dren, no  person  has  yet  died  of  fever.  And  almost  all 
the  mortality  of  the  whole  Colony  since  its  settlement 
can  be  traced  to  some  circumstance  of  manifest  impru- 
dence. Care  is  unquestionably  to  be  exercised  in  the 
selection  of  places  for  settlement.  Care  is  to  be  exer- 
cised also  in  guarding  against  the  common  causes  of 
disease  in  all  tropical  countries.  And  in  the  distribu- 
tion of  emigrants  among  the  several  settlements,  refer- 
ence is  to  be  had  to  the  latitude  of  our  country 
from  which  they  were  taken.  In  a uniform  adherence 
to  such  measures  of  precaution,  it  is  believed  that  the 
whole  mass  of  our  coloured  population'^may  be  trans- 
ported to  the  coast  of  Africa  with  entire  safety.  It  is 
believed  indeed  to  be  the  very  climate  for  which  they 
were  formed  by  the  God  of  nature,  and  which  is  ren- 
dered in  his  wisdom  si)ecially  congenial  to  their  peculiar 
physical  constitution.  And  the  residence  of  many  of 
them  among  us  is  at  the  expense  of  comfort,  health, 
and  life,  inasmuch  as  it  is  an  obvious  violation  of  the 
benevolent  arrangements  of  Divine  Providence. 

In  considering  the  practicability  of  the  colonizing 
enterprise,  another  inquiry  is  still  presented. 

5.  Has  our  country  the  resources  demanded  for  the 
accomplishment  of  an  object  of  such  magnitude  f The 
transportation  of  more  than  two  millions  of  souls  to  a 
remote  country  is  indeed  an  object  of  formidable  as- 
pect. It  obviously  cannot  be  accomplished  at  once. — 
But  that  the  number  can  be  gradually  diminished,  till 


11 


utterly  extinguished,  may  be  made  to  appear,  it  is  be- 
lieved, from  a little  arithmetical  calculation.  Let  the 
object  be  to  prevent  by  transportation  the  future  in- 
crease of  this  people,  and  to  reduce  annually  but  a lit- 
tle the  original  stock,  and  who  can  fail  to  perceive  the 
importance  and  glory  of  the  enterprise  ? And  can  this 
object  be  achieved  by  such  means  as  the  country  can 
readily  bring  to  bear  upon  it  ? 

The  annual  increase  of  the  free  blacks  is  estimated 
to  be  two  and  a half  per  cent,  and  that  of  the  slaves 
to  be  three  per  cent.  The  last  census  being  taken  as 
the  data  of  calculation,  the  actual  increase  of  the  former 
would  be  annually  six  thousand,  and  of  the  latter  forty- 
six  thousand  ; — or  of  both  united  fifty-two  thousand. — 
The  average  expense  of  each  emigrant,  young  and 
old,  including  passage  money  and  subsistence,  is  found 
by  the  experience  of  the  Society  to  be  twenty  dollars. 
It  is  supposed  it  may  yet  be  considerably  reduced. — 
The  annual  cost  of  transporting  the  contemplated 
number  to  the  coast  of  Africa,  then,  would  be  one 
million  and forty  thousand  dollars.  Here  is  the  tax  to 
be  levied  upon  the  United  States,  for  the  purpose  of 
opposing  an  effectual  barrier  to  the  growth  of  an  evil 
which  the  united  voice  of  the  land  is  beginning  loudly 
to  deplore — an  evil,  which,  if  not  arrested,  must  inev- 
itably lead  to  results  on  which  the  eye  looks  with  hor- 
ror. And  can  this  tax  he  paid  ? Assessed  upon  the 
ten  millions  of  white  population  equally,  it  would  be 
7ime  and  a half  cents  for  each — or  ^howi  ffty  cents  for 
each  family.  And  where  is  the  family  that  cannot  pay 
its  full  proportion  ? Let  the  man  of  princely  estate 
withhold  the  generous  donation  he  might  spare  as  well 
as  not,  and  who  would  still  be  burdened  by  the  expense 
of  this  mighty  enterprise  ? Assessed  upon  the  profes- 
sed disciples  of  the  benevolent  Saviour  of  all  denom- 


12 


illations,  the  tax  would  be  about  one  dollar  annually 
for  each.  Let  the  church  alone,  then,  assume  the  bur- 
den— the  church,  solemnly  pledged  for  works  of  benev- 
olence— and  who  tvill  harbour  the  apprehension  that 
she  must  be  impoverished  ? And  what  Christian,  cal- 
culating soon  to  exchange  all  earthly  possessions  for 
the  imperishable  glories  of  the  upper  world,  will  clinch 
the  dollar  that  might  perpetuate  the  liberties  of  his 
country,  contribute  to  rescue  thousands  from  deep  af- 
fliction, and  shed  the  blessings  of  civilization  and  the 
gospel  over  a continent  ? 

Let  such  a tide  of  public  sentiment  in  favour  of  the 
project  be  raised  as  to  justify  the  General  Government 
in  assuming  the  pecuniary  burden,  and  who  honestly  be- 
lieves that  any  of  the  great  interests  of  the  country 
would  suffer  ? Is  a nation  like  this  to  be  embarrassed 
by  an  annual  appropriation  of  little  more  than  a million 
of  dollars  to  the  cause  of  humanity  ? — a nation  that  can 
extinguish  in  a year  twelve  millions  of  national  debt, 
and  at  the  same  time  prosecute  with  vigour  its  majestic 
plans  of  defence  and  of  internal  improvement  ? — a 
nation,  one  of  whose  States  can  hazard  six  millions  of 
dollars  on  the  j)roject  of  opening  a single  canal  ? — a 
nation,  whose  canvass  whitens  every  sea,  and  proudly 
enters  almost  every  harbour  of  the  globe  ? — a nation 
whose  villages  and  cities  are  rising  as  by  magic  over  a 
fertile  territory  of  two  millions  of  square  miles  ? — a 
nation  destined  within  the  compass  of  the  passing  cen- 
tury to  embosom  a white  population  of  eighty  millions  ? 
With  the  past  smiles  of  Divine  Providence,  our  national 
debt  will  soon  be  annihilated.  And  from  that  glad 
hour  let  the  government  provide  liberally  for  all  its  ne- 
cessary operations — let  it  push  forward  every  wheel 
in  its  splendid  machinery  of  political  improvement, 
and  then  give  to  our  cause  but  the  surplus  of  its  rev- 


13 


enue ; and,  as  regards  the  expense  of  transportation, 
it  will  furnish  the  means  of  granting  to  every  African 
exile  among  us  a happy  home  in  the  land  of  his 
fathers  within  the  compass  of  six  years. — Let  it 
bestow  but  half  the  amount  of  the  expense  of  our 
last  war ; and  it  would  enable  the  Society  to  accomplish 
all  at  which  its  benevolence  grasps.  Let  the  commu- 
nity make  for  the  object  an  annual  offering  equal  to 
that  which  it  taxes  itself  for  intoxicating  liquors  ; and  it 
would  enable  the  Society  to  purchase  from  their  bon- 
dage at  a fair  price,  the  entire  slave  population  of  our 
country  in  five,  or  at  most  six  years.  And  the  offering 
would  lay  the  axe  at  the  root  of  the  tree  as  regards 
the  two  deadliest  evils  in  the  land. 

Whether,  then,  the  burden  of  this  enterprise  be  sus- 
tained by  the  voluntary  contributions  of  the  community, 
or  by  the  resources  of  the  civil  government,  it  cannot 
be  the  occasion  of  suffering  to  the  nation.  The  money 
can  be  spared  without  seriously  abridging  individual 
comfort  or  national  improvement. 

It  has  been  said  that  the  entire  shij^ping  of  the 
country,  both  public  and  private,  would  hardly  be  com- 
petent for  an  object  of  this  magnitude.  But  careful 
calculation  has  proved,  that  one  eighteenth  of  the  mer- 
cantile shipping  alone^  entirely  devoted  to  the  enter- 
prise, is  competent  to  carry  it  into  complete  consum- 
mation. And  why  might  not  our  brilliant  and  growing 
navy  aid  to  some  extent  the  humane  and  patriotic 
cause  ? If  necessary,  why  might  not  the  marine  of 
other  lands  be  chartered  ? Strange  indeed  it  is  if  ship- 
ping enough  could  be  found  half  a century  ago  to  re- 
duce hundreds  of  thousands  of  this  race  in  a single 
year  to  a wretched  vassalage,  and  in  this  age  of  aug- 
mented light,  and  wealth,  and  improvement  in  every 


14 


art,  enough  cannot  be  found  for  the  single  benevolent 
object  before  us ! 

But  it  may  be  said  that  the  slaves  are  property  ; and 
can  be  obtained  only  as  they  are  purchased  of  the  mas- 
ter. True,  they  are  regarded  as  property;  and  the 
civil  code  recognizes  the  claim  of  the  master.  And 
what  would  be  looked  upon  as  a pecuniary  equivalent 
for  the  whole  must  amount  to  an  enormous  sum.  And 
yet  who  can  doubt  the  ability  of  this  rising  nation  to 
make  the  purchase  ? And  who  can  doubt  that  it  might 
be  the  soundest  policy  to  extinguish  the  master’s  claim 
throughout  our  territory  at  the  price  of  six  hundred 
millions  of  dollars  ? 1 will  not,  however,  do  our  slave- 

holding brethren  the  injustice  to  believe  that  this  whole 
equivalent  will  be  demanded.  Facts  prove  abundantly 
that  it  will  not.  There  is  extensively  a readiness  to 
relinquish  entirely  this  property,  just  so  soon  as  it  can 
be  done  with  safety  to  the  community,  and  with  ad- 
vantage to  the  coloured  race. 

The  American  Colonization  Society  would  gladly 
afford  the  opportunity  of  gratifying  this  spirit  of  hu- 
manity ; but  its  means  have  hitherto  been  utterly  in- 
adequate. Of  its  emigrants  the  last  year  eighty-eight 
were  manumitted  slaves.  At  the  close  of  the  year  a 
passage  was  sought  for  two  hundred  more.  Two  thou- 
sand could  now  be  received  from  the  single  State  of 
North  Carolina.  ‘‘  I am  perfectly  astonished,”  says 
an  Agent  of  the  State  Colonization  Society  of  Ken- 
tucky, “ at  the  ardour  with  which  all  men  of  all  ranks 
enter  into  the  plans  of  the  Society.  In  going  round 
to  receive  members,  I was  informed  by  many  individu- 
als, that  they  were  perfectly  ready  to  surrender  their 
negroes  at  any  time  the  Society  might  be  prepared  to 
receive  them.” 


15 


Facts  of  this  nature  encourage  the  hope  that  the 
Society  will  never  be  under  the  necessity  of  ])urchas- 
ing  emigrants.  If  its  operations  and  its  success  are  of 
a nature  to  secure  for  it  the  confidence  of  the  country, 
it  will  yet  be  hailed  by  thousands  as  a medium  of  bles- 
sings to  themselves  and  to  their  coloured  dependents  ; 
it  will  lead  to  the  " Joption  of  Legislative  measures  in 
the  States  for  emancipation  ; it  will  give  rise  to  one 
urgent  appeal  after  another  from  all  parts  of  the  Union 
to  the  General  Government  in  favour  of  its  objects  ; it 
will  create  such  a public  sentiment,  that  funds  will  be 
poured  into  its  treasury  by  voluntary  contribution  and 
Legislative  enactment, — and  still,  probably,  till  its 
work  is  completed,  it  will  be  unable  to  meet  the  appli- 
cations that  will  crowd  upon  its  attention. 

The  American  Society  is  already  sustained  by  eleven 
State  Auxiliaries.  The  Legislatures  of  eleven  States 
have  publicly  expressed  their  approbation  of  its  plans  ; 
and  of  these  six  are  Slave  States.  By  ten  States  have 
its  objects  been  recommended  to  the  patronage  of  the 
General  Government ; and  of  these  five  are  Slave 
States.  And  by  the  Legislature  of  one  Slave  State 
has  an  annual  appropriation  been  made  to  further  the 
objects  of  the  Society.  Let  the  benevolent  pour  their 
charities  into  its  treasury.  Let  Congress  make  its 
generous  appropriations.  Let  State  Legislatures  come 
to  its  aid  with  their  more  limited  offerings  ; — and  the 
master  will  come  forward  ivith  his  slaves^  and  present 
them  to  the  Society  as  a free-will  offering.  The  sev- 
eral Slave  States  it  is  to  be  presumed,  too,  will  prompt- 
ly adopt  regulatiotis  for  emancipation  which  shall  cor- 
respond with  the  existing  means  of  emigration. 

Thus  have  1 glanced  at  the  principal  circumstances 
which  affect  xhe  practicahility  of  the  Colonizing  scheme. 


16 


Blacks  can  be  induced  to 'emigrate.  A colony  on  the 
coast  of  Africa  can  be  made  secure  against  the  violence, 
of  tlie  natives.  The  adopted  country  will  afford  the 
means  of  their  comfortable  subsistence.  The  climate 
of  the  country  is  such  as  fully  to  justify  their  settle- 
ment there.  And  this  nation  has  all  the  resources  re- 
quisite for  the  full  and  triumphant  accomplishment  of 
such  an  object. 

The  scheme  before  the  American  public  is  not,  then, 
the  project  of  an  enthusiast.  In  all  its  greatness  and 
its  grandeur  it  can  be  carried  into  execution. 

The  Society  can  do  nothing,  however,  without  funds, 
and  at  present  its  dependence  is  upon  the  voluntary 
offerings  of  the  community.  And  to  ourselves  as  well 
as  others  it  now  comes  with  its  loud  appeals.  It  ad- 
dresses itself  to  our  generous  feelings  as  men,  to  our 
sympathies  as  Christians^  and  to  our  patriotism  as 
citizens  of  this  extended  and  rising  Republic. — 
Among  us  is  a growing  population  of  strangers. — 
They  are  manifestly  in  circumstances  to  awaken  our 
kindest  commisseration.  In  the  bosom  of  a thriving 
people  they  are  poor.  In  the  bosom  of  an  enlight- 
ened people  the}^  are  ignorant.  In  the  bosom  of  an 
independent  people  most  of  them  are  in  slavery.  In 
the  note  of  exultation  which  to-day  echoes  through 
the  land,  two  millions  among  us  can  feel  no  rational 
sympathy  ! An  asylum  has  been  opened  for  them  in 
the  land  of  their  fathers.  Send  them  thither  ; and  they 
will  find  themselves  to  be  at  home.  Freedom,  and 
competency,  and  intelligence,  and  religion  will  bless 
their  existence.  The  enterprise  is  one  of  unquestion- 
able benevolence.  Scarcely  another  presents  an  ap- 
peal so  touching  to  the  sensibilities.  This  afflicted 
people  have  special  and  powerful  claims  on  your  sym- 
pathy. Rise  to  their  relief.  Restore  them  to  their 


n 


proper  home.  And  they  will  forget  all  their  past 
wrongs.  And  amid  the  hosannas  which  shall  celebrate 
their  emancipation,  they  will  do  full  justice  to  your 
benevolence. 

The  American  Colonization  Society  addresses  itself 
to  our  patriotism,  as  citizens  of  this  growing  Republic. 
The  existence  of  such  a population  among  us  is  a most 
manifest  evil.  And  every  year  adds  to  its  threatening 
aspect.  They  are  more  than  a sixth  of  our  population  ! 
Their  ratio  of  increase  exceeds  that  of  the  whites. 
They  have  all  the  lofty  and  immortal  powers  of  man. 
And  the  time  must  arrive,  when  they  will  fearlessly 
claim  the  prerogatives  oi  man.  They  may  do  it  in  the 
spirit  of  revenge.  They  may  do  it  in  the  spirit  of 
desperation.  And  the  result  of  such  a mustering  of 
their  energies — who  can  look  at  it  even  in  distant  pros- 
pect without  horror  ? iVlmost  as  numerous  are  they 
now,  as  our  whole  population  when  this  nation  stood 
forth  for  freedom  in  a contest  with  the  mightiest  power 
of  the  civilized  world.  And  if  nothing  is  done  to 
arrest  their  increase,  w^e  shall  have  in  tw-enty  years 
four  millions  of  slaves  ; in  forty  years  eight  millions  ; 
in  sixty  years  sixteen  millions,  and  a million  of  free 
blacks ; — seventeen  millions  of  people  ; seven  millions 
more  than  our  present  wdiite  population  ; — enough  for 
a powerful  empire  ! And  how"  can  they  be  governed  ? 
Who  can  foretell  those  scenes  of  carnage  and  terror 
which  our  own  children  may  w^itness,  unless  a season- 
able remedy  be  applied  ? The  remedy  is  now  within 
our  reach.  We  can  stop  their  increase  ; we  can  di- 
minish their  number ; we  can  in  thirty  years  entirely 
remove  the  race  ; and  that  without  any  sacrifice.  We 
can  plant  them  on  a distant  coast,  w here  they  will 
thrive,  and  in  sixty  years  become  a i)owerful  Republic. 
Who  then  is  the  patriot  that  can  withhold  the  little 


charity  so  imperiously  deioaiided  tor  the  safety  of  his 
beloved  Country. 

The  Society  addresses  itself  to  our  sympathies  as 
Christians,  Its  Colony  is  to  be  a civilized  and  a Chris- 
tian Colony.  It  is  destined  to  exert  a mighty  influence 
on  the  neighboring  tribes  benighted  and  besotted.  It 
will  be  a direct  medium  of  access  to  them,  with  those 
arts  and  sciences  which  bless  humanity — with  that  gos- 
pel which  has  treasures  of  consolation  for  man  as  a crea- 
ture of  time,  and  which  is  his  only  adequate  guide  as  a 
candidate  for  immortality.  It  may  be  a radiating  point, 
from  which  the  mingled  lights  of  science  and  religion 
shall  beam  forth  to  cheer  and  elevate  a continent  of 
a hundred  millions.  Thus  has  the  object  a most 
manifest  and  powerful  bearing  on  the  predicted  event 
of  our  world’s  entire  submission  to  the  sceptre  of  Zion’s 
King. 

Who  then  will  withhold  the  little  treasure  that  is  need- 
ed, when  the  offering  would  bless  an  injured  people — 
his  country — a continent — a world  ? Dim  must  be  the 
eye  that  does  not  perceive  the  majesty  of  the  enter- 
prise ; and  dead  to  sensibility  the  heart  that  is  not 
thrilled  by  the  bare  possibility  of  its  triumph.  Why, 
then,  should  it  not  electrify  the  wise,  the  rich,  and  the 
good  throughout  the  land  ? Such  a national  effort  in 
behalf  of  degraded  and  distant  millions  would  be  an 
eternal  diadem  in  our  country’s  glory.  Too  long,  dear 
brethren,  have  we  been  accustomed  to  exult  in  our 
privileges,  and  to  forget  the  multitudes  less  favored. 
Fifty  years  have  passed  since  to  us  were  entrusted  the 
ensigns  of  freedom  to  the  whole  earth.  Meanwhile 
two  generations  of  mankind  have  gone  down  to  the 
dead;  and  half  the  living  are  yet  in  bondage.  And 
shall  we  go  on,  exulting  in  our  free  institutions,  and 


make  no  mighty  ehbrt  to  emancipate  the  world  r God 
of  heaven  forbid  it ! Every  generous  feeling  forbid 
it ! Rather  let  us  seize  every  opportunity  for  extend- 
ing these  blessin/,s.  Let  us  be  followers  of  Him  who, 
though  he  was  rich,  for  our  sakes  became  poor.  And 
when  we  go  down  to  the  gates  of  death,  let  it  not  be 
written  to  our  eternal  shame,  that  we  have  lived  only 
to  ourselves.  And  when,  with  the  high  and  the  low 
of  every  age  and  clime,  we  go  up  to  meet  the  Judge  in 
clouds,  O may  we  hear  from  his  gracious  lips.  In  as 
much  as  ye  have  done  it  unto  one  of  the  least  of  these 
my  brethren,  ye  have  done  it  unto  me. 


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